Paquette the Party Pooper

Syphilis Hands

Paquette is not the deepest character, but she's probably the nastiest. She shows up a few times in the book, throwing a twist in the plot each time. The first time, when Pangloss is "educating" her, she gives him Syphilis. The second time, she is seen with a monk. She's a prostitute and helps support Martin's pessimistic views. The third and final time, Paquette shows up again with the monk in utter despair. She and the group go to a dervish, but they're too pathetic and unenlightened to be helped.